Championship Preview - Part 1

The 2012-2013 Football League campaign is due to kick-off on Friday. Vital Posh looks at the sides in the Championship and rates their chances for the coming season.

Cardiff City entertain Championship new boys Huddersfield Town on Friday evening in the season launching match.

The Championship seems to get tougher each season and this season is no exception with the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers dropping down from the Premiership while some former big names in Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield have made the step up from League One.

There are now just six Championship teams who have never played in the Premiership! They are Posh, Brighton and Hove Albion, Bristol City, Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Millwall.

It`s bound to be another action packed season with many ups and downs as well as some surprises. Last seasons Premiership sides will all want to bounce back at the first attempt, but as many teams have found out over the years, it`s not that easy!

There will be many battles at the top of the league as well as the bottom but yet again, there won`t be much of a difference between the teams.

BARNSLEY

Manager: Keith Hill

Nickname: The Tykes

Ground: Oakwell

Capacity: 23,009

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Ben Alnwick

Tottenham

Free

Lee Collins

Port Vale

£50,000

Tomasz Cywka

Reading

Free

Kelvin Etuhu

Portsmouth

Free

Marlon Harewood

Free

Free

Jacob Mellis

Chelsea

Free

Mido

Zamalek

Free

Toni Silva

Liverpool

Free

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Jacob Butterfield

Norwich

Undisclosed

David Cotterill

Doncaster

Free

Nathan Doyle

Bradford

Free

Andy Gray

Released

Released

Jay McEveley

Swindon

Free

David Preece

Released

Released

Alistair Taylor

Released

Released

Key Player: Former Posh goalkeeper Luke Steele

Chances: Having just avoided relegation last season, Barnsley could yet again struggle to stay in the Championship. Keith Hill has signed some journeymen in an attempt to provide experience, but look where experienced journeymen got Doncaster last season! It could be a long season.

Position Last Season: 21st

Vital Posh Prediction: 23rd

Odds: 150/1

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Manager: Lee Clark

Nickname: Blues

Ground: St Andrews

Capacity: 30,009

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Darren Ambrose

Crystal Palace

£280,000

Ben Gordon

Chelsea

Loan

Peter Lovenkrands

Newcastle

Free

David Lucas

Rochdale

Free

Ravel Morrison

West Ham

Season Loan

Hayden Mullins

Portsmouth

Undisclosed

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Caleb Folan

Released

Released

Ben Foster

WBA

£4.4million

Luke Hubbins

AFC Telford

Free

Cian Hughton

Released

Released

Jordon Mutch

Cardiff

£1.1million

Ashley Sammons

Released

Released

Enric Valles

Released

Released

Key Player: A tough decision as the squad looks strong. Peter Lovenkrands will be vital for scoring the goals but the key player is defender Curtis Davis who could be the difference between an automatic promotion place and a play-off spot.

Chances: Without the distraction of European football this season, the Blues have every chance on improving on their 4th place finish. Some quality players have been added to the squad alongside some unknown quantities. The only doubt is whether new manager Lee Clark can get them playing his style of football and whether it proves to be successful.

Position Last Season: 4th

Vital Posh Prediction: 2nd

Odds: 18/1

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Manager: Steve Kean

Nickname: Rovers

Ground: Ewood Park

Capacity: 31,154

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Leon Best

Newcastle

£3million

Dickson Etuhu

Fulham

£1.5million

Nuno Gomes

Braga

Free

Paulo Jorge

FC Porto B

Undisclosed

Colin Kazim-Richards

Galatasaray

Loan

Edinho Junior

Olhanense

£500,000

Danny Murphy

Fulham

Free

Fabio Nunes

Portimonense

Undisclosed

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Zac Aley

Released

Released

Myles Anderson

Aldershot

Loan

Nick Blackman

Sheffield United

Undisclosed

Ryan Edwards

Rochdale

6-month Youth Loan

Herold Goulon

Released

Released

Vince Grella

Released

Released

Junior Hoilett

QPR

Free

Jamie MacLaren

Released

Released

Matthew Pearson

Rochdale

Free

Jackson Ramm

Colchester

Free

Michel Salgado

Released

Released

Jordan Slew

Oldham

Loan

Ayegbeni Yakubu

Guangzhou R&F

£1million

Key Player: Danny Murphy

Chances: Rovers have made some quality signings for the Championship but the pressure will be on manager Steve Kean right from the off. If things don`t go to plan, Kean could be one of the managerial casualties this season. The squad should easily be good enough to finish in the play-offs.

Position Last Season: 19th in Premier League

Vital Posh Prediction: 3rd

Odds: 10/1

BLACKPOOL

Manager: Ian Holloway

Nickname: The Seasiders, Tangerines

Ground: Bloomfield Road

Capacity: 16,220

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Jake Caprice

Crystal Palace

Free

James Caton

Free Agent

Free

Adda Djeziri

Free Agent

Free

Tiago Gomes

Free Agent

Free

Alberto Noguera

Free Agent

Free

Isaiah Osbourne

Hibernian

£250,000

Scott Robertson

Dundee United

Free

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Daniel Bogdanovic

Released

Released

Matt Hill

Sheffield United

Free

Stephen Husband

Released

Released

Lomana LuaLua

Karabukspor

Free

Brett Ormerod

Wrexham

Free

Keith Southern

Huddersfield

£300,000

Key Player: Matt Phillips

Chances: No well-known names have arrived at Blackpool so it depends on how well they integrate with the rest of the team and whether they can improve on what they had last season. Made the play-offs last season but could miss out this time around.

Position Last Season: 5th

Vital Posh Prediction: 8th

Odds: 16/1

BOLTON WANDERERS

Manager: Owen Coyle

Nickname: The Trotters

Ground: Reebok Stadium

Capacity: 28,723

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Benik Afobe

Arsenal

Season Loan

Keith Andrews

WBA

Free

Andy Lonergan

Leeds United

£280,000

Joe McKee

Free Agent

Free

Matt Mills

Leicester City

£2.2million

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Rhys Bennett

Rochdale

Free

Robbie Blake

Doncaster

Free

Mark Connolly

Crawley

Free

Sean Davis

Unattached

Released

Tom Eckersley

Accrington Stanley

Free

Dino Fazlic

Unattached

Released

Ricardo Gardner

Unattached

Released

Jussi Jaaskelainen

West Ham United

Free

Ivan Klasnic

Unattached

Released

Fabrice Muamba

Retired

Retired

Tope Obadeyi

Rio Ave

Free

Nigel Reo-Coker

Released

Released

Paul Robinson

Unattached

Released

Gretar Steinsson

Unattached

Released

Key Player: Matt Mills

Chances: Dropping down to the Championship has seen a bit of a clear out with just a small number of players coming in through the door. A good solid squad should easily manage the weekly grind and make it back to the Premiership.

Position Last Season: 18th in the Premier League

Vital Posh Prediction: Champions

Odds: 7/1

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

Manager: Gus Poyet

Nickname: The Seagulls

Ground: American Express Community Stadium

Capacity: 22,374

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Wayne Bridge

Manchester City

Loan

Andrew Crofts

Norwich City

Undisclosed

Tomasz Kuszczak

Manchester United

Free

Bruno Saltor

Valencia

Free

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Tommy Elphick

Bournemouth

Undisclosed

Jake Forster-Caskey

Oxford United

Loan

David Gonzalez

Unattached

Released

Grant Hall

Tottenham

Free

Yaser Kasim

Luton Town

Loan

Alan Navarro

Swindon

Free

Michael Poke

Torquay

Free

Leon Redwood

Unattached

Released

Key Player: Vicente

Chances: Surprised many last season by sustaining their form throughout the season. They have an excellent manager in Poyet who is building an experienced team. Brought in Kuszczak as he looks to sort out his goalkeeping problems but having seen him perform for Watford in the latter half of last season, he may not be the solution.

Position Last Season: 10th

Vital Posh Prediction: 11th

Odds: 14/1

BRISTOL CITY

Manager: Derek McInnes

Nickname: The Robins

Ground: Ashton Gate

Capacity: 21,497

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Paul Anderson

Nottingham Forest

Free

Greg Cunningham

Manchester City

Undisclosed

Tom Heaton

Cardiff City

Free

Jody Morris

St Johnstone

Free

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Danny Ball

Bath City

Free

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Notts County

Free

David Clarkson

Bristol Rovers

Free

Marlon Jackson

Hereford United

Free

David James

Unattached

Released

Jamie McAllister

Yeovil

Free

Henry Muggeridge

Unattached

Released

Christian Ribeiro

Scunthorpe

Free

Key Player: Albert Adomah

Chances: Struggled last season despite a change of manager. Very few players have arrived in the summer and it`s hard to see how they will avoid relegation.

Position Last Season: 20th

Vital Posh Prediction: 24th

Odds: 66/1

BURNLEY

Manager: Eddie Howe

Nickname: The Clarets

Ground: Turf Moor

Capacity: 22,546

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Joseph Mills

Reading

Season Loan

Luke O`Neil

Mansfield

£220,000

George Porter

Leyton Orient

Undisclosed

Jason Shackell

Derby County

£1.1million

Brian Stock

Doncaster

Undisclosed

Sam Vokes

Wolves

£558,000

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Andre Amougou

Released

Released

Tom Anderson

Barrow

Loan

Clarke Carlisle

Released

Released

Brian Easton

Released

Released

Alex-Ray Harvey

Barrow

Free

Joe Jackson

Barrow

Loan

Dominic Knowles

Released

Released

David Lynch

Released

Released

Joe McKee

Released

Released

Jay Rodriguez

Southampton

£7.6million

Ross Wilson

Released

Released

Neil Yadolahi

Released

Released

Key Player: Charlie Austin

Chances: Will miss Rodriguez and will have to rely greatly on Austin to bag the goals. Howe possesses a good young squad and if they can find some consistency, they should improve on last seasons position.

Position Last Season: 13th

Vital Posh Prediction: 9th

Odds: 33/1

CARDIFF CITY

Manager: Malky Mackay

Nickname: The Bluebirds

Ground: Cardiff City Stadium

Capacity: 26,828

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Craig Bellamy

Liverpool

Free

Kim Bo-kyung

Cerezo Osaka

£2.6million

Heidar Helguson

QPR

Undisclosed

Filip Kiss

Slovan Bratislava

£500,000

Joe Lewis

Peterborough United

Free

Jordon Mutch

Birmingham City

£1.1million

Etien Velikonja

Maribor

£1.8million

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Alex Evans

Released

Released

Anthony Gerrard

Huddersfield

£396,000

Tom Heaton

Bristol City

Free

Jon Meades

Released

Released

Kenny Miller

Vancouver

£563,000

Lee Naylor

Released

Released

Jon Parkin

Fleetwood

Free

Paul Quinn

Doncaster

Free

Jordan Santiago

Released

Released

Aaron Wildig

Shrewsbury

Free

Key Player: Peter Whittingham

Chances: Have been there or there abouts for a number of years but could find it tougher this season. Despite adding a couple of decent players they could come undone if Joe Lewis claims the number one jersey!

Position Last Season: 6th

Vital Posh Prediction: 10th

Odds: 11/1

CHARLTON

Manager: Chris Powell

Nickname: The Addicks

Ground: The Valley

Capacity: 27,111

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Jordan Cook

Sunderland

Free

Slaim Kerkar

Rangers

Free

Lawrie Wilson

Stevenage

£554,000

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Mikel Alonso

Released

Released

Gary Doherty

Wycombe

Free

Jason Euell

Released

Released

Conor Gough

Bristol Rovers

Free

Tosan Popo

Released

Released

Freddie Warren

Barnet

Free

Key Player: Bradley Wright-Phillips

Chances: Chris Powell will hope they continue the momentum from winning League One last season. Very few players have arrived as Powell is putting his faith in the players that got him promotion. This could be costly as Peterborough United found out three seasons ago when they only made a handful of signings as Darren Ferguson kept faith with his existing players. Posh came last in that disastrous season!

Position Last Season: 1st in League One

Vital Posh Prediction: 18th

Odds: 20/1

CRYSTAL PALACE

Manager: Dougie Freedman

Nickname: The Eagles

Ground: Selhurst Park

Capacity: 26,309

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Aaron Martin

Southampton

Season Loan

Peter Ramage

Free Agent

Free

Joel Ward

Portsmouth

£572,000

Aaron Wilbraham

Norwich City

Free

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Darren Ambrose

Birmingham City

£280,000

Calvin Andrew

Released

Released

Jake Caprice

Blackpool

Free

Nathaniel Clyne

Southampton

£2.8million

Anthony Gardner

Sheff Wednesday

Free

Lee Hills

Stevenage

Free

Charlie Holness

Released

Released

Antonio Pedroza

Monarcas Morelia

Undisclosed

Nathaniel Pinney

Released

Released

Sean Scannell

Huddersfield

£985,600

Key Player: Wilfred Zaha

Chances: Done well to keep hold of Zaha but have lost some influential players. Could struggle this season but they should just escape the clutches of relegation.

Position Last Season: 17th

Vital Posh Prediction: 20th

Odds: 66/1

DERBY COUNTY

Manager: Nigel Clough

Nickname: The Rams

Ground: Pride Park

Capacity: 33,597

Players In

Name

From

Cost

Paul Coutts

Preston

£167,200

Michael Jacobs

Northampton

£554,400

Richard Keogh

Coventry

Undisclosed

James O`Connor

Doncaster

Undisclosed

Players Out

Name

To

Cost

Paul Green

Leeds United

Free

James Severn

Scunthorpe

Free

Chris Maguire

Sheff Wednesday

£277,200

Lee Croft

Oldham

Season Loan

Miles Addison

Bournemouth

Undisclosed

Jason Shackell

Burnley

£1.1million

Callum Ball

Coventry

Season Loan

Key Player: Paul Coutts

Chances: Were comfortable mid-table last season and can expect more of the same.